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Parkinson Disease and Dementia

What is Parkinson disease?

Parkinson disease is a movement disorder. It can cause the muscles to tighten and become rigid This makes it hard to walk and do other daily activities. People with Parkinson’s disease also have tremors and may develop cognitive problems, including memory loss and dementia.

Parkinson disease is most common in people who are older than 50. The average age at which it occurs is 60. But some younger people may also get Parkinson disease. When it affects someone younger than age 50, it's called early-onset Parkinson disease. You may be more likely to get early-onset Parkinson disease if someone in your family has it. The older you are, the greater your risk of developing Parkinson disease. It's also much more common in men than in women.

Parkinson disease is a chronic and progressive disease. It doesn't go away and continues to get worse over time.

What causes Parkinson disease?

Parkinson disease arises from decreased dopamine production in the brain. The absence of dopamine makes it hard for the brain to coordinate muscle movements. Low dopamine also contributes to mood and cognitive problems later in the course of the disease. Experts don't know what triggers the development of Parkinson disease most of the time. Early onset Parkinson disease is often inherited and is the result of certain gene defects.

What are the symptoms of Parkinson disease?

Parkinson disease symptoms usually start out mild, and then progressively get much worse. The first signs are often so subtle that many people don't seek medical attention at first. These are common symptoms of Parkinson disease:

Tremors that affect the face and jaw, legs, arms, and hands

Slow, stiff walking

Trouble maintaining balance

Problems with coordination

A stiff feeling in arms, legs, and torso area

Changes in handwriting

Eventually, Parkinson disease symptoms get worse and include:

Depression

Gastrointestinal problems (like constipation)

Problems with urination

Trouble chewing and swallowing food

Memory loss

Hallucinations

Dementia

Weight loss

How is Parkinson disease diagnosed?

Parkinson disease can be hard to diagnose. No single test can identify it. Parkinson can be easily mistaken for another health condition. A healthcare provider will usually take a medical history, including a family history to find out if anyone else in your family has Parkinson's disease. He or she will also do a neurological exam. Sometimes, an MRI or CT scan, or some other imaging scan of the brain can identify other problems or rule out other diseases.

How is Parkinson disease treated?

Parkinson disease can't be cured. But there are different therapies that can help control symptoms. Many of the medicines used to treat Parkinson disease help to offset the loss of the chemical dopamine in the brain. Most of these medicines help manage symptoms quite successfully.

A procedure called deep brain stimulation may also be used to treat Parkinson disease. It sends electrical impulses into the brain to help control tremors and twitching movements. Some people may need surgery to manage Parkinson disease symptoms. Surgery may involve destroying small areas of brain tissue responsible for the symptoms. However, these surgeries are rarely done since deep brain stimulation is now available.

What are the complications of Parkinson disease?

Parkinson disease causes physical symptoms at first. Problems with cognitive function, including forgetfulness and trouble with concentration, may arise later. As the disease gets worse with time, many people develop dementia. This can cause profound memory loss and makes it hard to maintain relationships.

Parkinson disease dementia can cause problems with:

Speaking and communicating with others

Problem solving

Understanding abstract concepts

Forgetfulness

Paying attention

If you have Parkinson disease and dementia, in time, you likely won't be able to live by yourself. Dementia affects your ability to care of yourself, even if you can still physically do daily tasks.

Experts don't understand how or why dementia often occurs with Parkinson disease. It’s clear, though, that dementia and problems with cognitive function are linked to changes in the brain that cause problems with movement. As with Parkinson disease, dementia occurs when nerve cells degenerate, leading to chemical changes in the brain. Parkinson disease dementia may be treated with medicines also used to treat Alzheimer's disease, another type of dementia.

Can Parkinson disease be prevented?

Experts don't yet understand how to prevent Parkinson disease. In some instances, there seems to be a genetic predisposition to develop Parkinson disease, but this isn’t always the case. Research is underway to find new ways to treat and prevent the disease.

Living with Parkinson disease

These measures can help you live well with Parkinson disease:

An exercise routine can help keep muscles flexible and mobile. Exercise also releases natural brain chemicals that can improve emotional well-being.

High protein meals can benefit your brain chemistry

Physical, occupational, and speech therapy can help your ability to care for yourself and communicate with others

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